After the Champions League draw was conducted by Gianluigi Buffon and Cristiano Ronaldo, the former jokingly said the aim of the new league phase was to put an end to Real Madrid’s dominance.
Although a fanciful glee, the words of Gigi Buffon have gone a long way, as Real Madrid have struggled considerably in the 2024/25 Champions League league phase.
Los Blancos’ struggles were not the only key takeaways from matchday four’s games as Arne Slot’s well-oiled Liverpool machine demolished Bayer Leverkusen, while Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City lost for the third time in as many games.
3Sports takes a look at some talking points from matchday four of the Uefa Champions League.
Real Madrid’s malfunctioning team could cost them in the long-run
Real Madrid do not seem to be at their fluid best this season, with the latest evidence showcased on Tuesday night when they lost 3-1 to AC Milan. As a unit, Real’s structure was easily broken by AC Milan, who found it easy to play in-between-the-lines. A clear example of Real’s failure to coordinate the press as a team and defend as a unit was when Tchouameni’s loose ball in midfield was pounced upon by Milan’s Reijjnder who fed in Leao, eventually leading to AC Milan’s second goal by Morata.
Real Madrid’s press from the front was non-existent throughout the game as Mbappe and Vinicius, the two men who led the line, failed to press. Jude Bellingham was often seen single-handedly trying to break the lines and make runs in behind AC Milan’s defence while abandoning his midfield role. Mbappe, who should be ideally occupying the two centre-backs was often dropping too deep, with Bellingham trying to make the advancing runs.
Whatever Ancelotti’s plan may be, at the moment, it needs to be altered. With a mere six points from an available 12 and a trip to face high-flying Liverpool at Anfield, as well as an away game against Atalanta on the cards, Real face the prospect of being booted out of the competition early, despite being defending champions.
Monaco, Lille & Brest shine Ligue 1’s torch amid PSG struggles
Contingents from the French Ligue 1 have been thus impressive. On Tuesday, Monaco clinched a 1-0 win over Bologna, to add to victories against Barcelona and Red Star Belgrade, leaving them undefeated after four games, while a second-half Dusan Vlahovic penalty denied Lille maximum points after Jonathan David’s fine finish for the hosts.
Jonathan David has been a man possessed by goals, tearing down opponents at will. Against cross-city rivals Real and Atletico Madrid, David bagged three goals in both games as Lille secured all six points on offer.
The excellent performance put up by the French sides so far sees them well-positioned to make it – although early days- to the knockout stages. Brest, Uefa Champions League debutants, have also been a revolution in this season’s campaign, securing ten points from 12.
In contrast to past seasons when the French sides have been the whipping boys for other teams, the aforementioned Ligue 1 sides have shown they are ready to compete and make it to the latter stages of the competition. Lille are in 12th position with one loss while Monaco are third and yet to suffer a defeat; Brest are behind Monaco in fourth.
The stories of Monaco, Lille, and Brest are in stark contrast to PSG who have moved from Champions League runners-up in 2020 to being on the verge of not making it to the knockout rounds.
Despite splashing the cash to try and replace Mbappe who joined Real Madrid on a free transfer in the summer, the addition of Desire Doue, Ibrahim Mbaye, Joao Neves and a host of players has still not been able to help PSG secure their singular ambition of winning the Champions League.
Arne Slot’s well-oiled Liverpool machine keeps getting better
At the weekend, Liverpool came from a goal down to beat Brighton 2-1 at Anfield in the league. Even when their backs are against the wall, they do not seem like losing.
Bar the blip against Nottingham Forest earlier in the season, Liverpool have been near-perfect and a resounding 4-0 win against a well-drilled Leverkusen side just about tells the story.
Luis Diaz, competing for the left wing with Cody Gakpo, laid down a marker with his first hat-trick for the club while his compatriot, Gakpo, found the other goal as an astonishing second-half display saw Leverkusen outclassed.
Not the best of comebacks for former Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso, who had nowhere to hang his head as he was humiliated.
Liverpool, at the moment, are looking like the team to beat in this year’s competition as they comfortably lead the way in the league phase with a perfect record (four wins from four).
Sneak peek of ruthless Amorim
Ruben Amorim’s auditioning was perfect for Manchester United fans as Sporting CP overturned a 1-0 deficit to put four past Manchester City.
Victor Gyokeres, just as he has been all season, was irrepressible, bagging a hat-trick as Manchester City lost their third successive game.
Meanwhile, the headlines were dominated by incoming Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, who gave fans a first-hand glimpse of what he is about and why United’s hierarchy splashed the cash (€10) to appoint him as Ten Hag’s successor.
Even at 3-1, when Haaland had the opportunity to halve the deficit from the spot, Amorim looked calm as the striker’s attempt from 12 yards rattled the crossbar.
United fans will be delighted as they await their coach who is set to begin work on November 11.
Manchester City falter for the first time in two years
For the first time in two years in Europe’s elite competition, City were not on an elite level as they were hammered 4-1 by Sporting CP.
A game that they shot ahead early on had a comfortable victory written all over until Sporting CP turned on the style and annihilated City.
Various reasons may be the cause for City’s recent slew in form, with manager Guardiola confirming he had 13 first-team players available
before last weekend’s trip to Bournemouth.
City have been hampered by injuries, with key players such as Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, and Jeremy Doku facing spells on the sidelines – but losing three consecutive games across three competitions will cause a few jitters for a team that has been so consistent in achieving so much success in the last decade.
For the first time in six years, City have lost three successive games and they will be hoping their players return in time to set them on course for a fifth successive league title. Rarely is Pep Guardiola’s tactical nous questioned but the manager may be under a bit of slight pressure as he nears the end of his City tenure with his contract due this summer.
Barcelona keep getting better and better
The only team capable of stopping Barcelona is themselves. Unless they hit the self-destruct button, at the moment, they can do no wrong – with anything they touch, effortlessly turning into goals.
With 55 goals scored in 16 games across all competitions, Barcelona are the highest-scoring side among the top five European leagues. Their Champions League goal tally after four games stands at 15 – the highest of any team in the competition.
Their attackers are on the same wavelength, making good decisions, moving the ball about crisply, and above all, defending resolutely.
Barcelona’s high line has recorded over 100 offsides so far; a testament to how good and disciplined they’ve been positionally – with the system allowing center-backs to push into midfield, while midfielders are encouraged to drive up into the final third with the ball, as well as making late runs into the box.
However, at the current rate, Hansi Flick’s Barcelona are on course to emulate his Bayern Munich side, which won the Champions League in the 2019/20 season and had the same number of goals (15) after four games. Barcelona, however, have conceded five goals, which is one more than Flick’s Bayern at this stage.
Arsenal running out of steam
Arsenal were unable to replicate the 5-1 performance they put up in 2003, when they last visited San Siro, as they narrowly lost 1-0 to Inter Milan on Wednesday night. Arsenal’s result leaves them in 12th position with seven points.
The latest defeat comes on the heels of the Gunners’ 1-0 loss to Newcastle at the weekend, which was preceded by a 2-2 draw against Liverpool a week earlier in the league. The results in their last three games in the Champions League and Premier League, have the supporters of the club looking over their shoulder.
For a club who are primed to compete for major honors, their failure to win crucial games away from home is a worrying sight. Against Newcastle, Arsenal were on the ropes in the first half and eventually lost in the end. In last season’s Champions League quarter-final, after drawing the first leg, a loss to Bayern Munich in the second leg ended their run, coupled with failing to secure a win against Manchester City at the Etihad last term and this term.
The results have consistently shown that the team have not yet reached the designated mental heights to compete for major laurels.
The latest setback piles pressure on coach Mikel Arteta and his quest to restore the Gunners’ glory days.
Source:
3news.com
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